Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “precision” come from?

Precision comes from Middle French precision, derived from Latin praecisio, meaning a cutting off or shortening.

precision (English): The state of being precise or exact; exactness;...

Definitions

  1. The state of being precise or exact; exactness;...

Ancestry of “precision”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle FrenchprécisionAlternative form of precision
2Latinpraecisiothe act of cutting off; a piece cut off; cut,...
3Latin-tiō—
4Latindissertātiō—
5Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
6Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “precision”

  • imprecision
  • ultraprecision
  • precisionist
  • multiprecision
  • overprecision
  • precisional
  • pseudoprecision
  • underprecision
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →